SHAH ALAM: Creating one million high-income job opportunities in the digital economy sector over five years is part of Perikatan Nasional’s plan if it comes into power.

Under the coalition’s manifesto for GE15, it wants to create a conducive environment to attract quality investments that will produce more high-income job opportunities.

In tandem with that, it aims to start a special fund worth RM5bil to encourage investments and prioritise high-technology industries to create such jobs, specifically for the younger workforce.

Perikatan also wants to make Malaysia the centre of the South-East Asian economy, which will be based on future industries.

At the same time, it pledges to expedite the process of hiring foreign workers for critical sectors.

Launched last night, the coalition’s manifesto, themed “Prihatin, Bersih, Stabil” (Caring, Clean, Stable), contains 234 offers to ensure a caring, clean and stable government that guarantees continuous prosperity for every Malaysian.

It also promises to intensify economic recovery initiatives that are comprehensive and inclusive, involving all races in Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

At the launch here, Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said bread-and-butter issues will be given attention by the coalition should it receive the mandate of the people to rule.

“Economic issues such as cost of living, employment, income, inflation, the rise in prices of goods, and other concerning issues will be given main attention by Perikatan,” he said during his speech.

Should Perikatan form the government, Muhyiddin, who is a former prime minister, gave his assurance that it will discuss all these issues in its first Cabinet meeting.

The Bersatu president said the offers made by Perikatan are achievable based on the coalition’s experience as a government.

All in favour: Supporters holding up posters carrying the tagline of the theme for Perikatan’s election manifesto during its unveiling by Muhyiddin. — SHAARI CHEMAT /The Star

“We will ensure that all these offers can be implemented efficiently and effectively with the support of the civil service, government agencies, GLCs (government-linked companies), and the private sector,” he added.

Perikatan consists of Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Sabah STAR, and the Sabah Progressive Party.

Under the manifesto, Perikatan proposes to provide a year’s worth of free internet for start-ups to encourage technological innovation.

It will also strengthen reskilling and upskilling programmes in the high-technology sector by providing incentives for employers.

Other plans include increasing industry training opportunities in GLCs by providing a minimum allowance of RM1,000.

Meanwhile, developing competitive micro-small-medium enterprises (micro-SMEs) will be the main catalyst for economic growth.

Among the measures that Perikatan has in its manifesto is the continuation of targeted moratoriums to assist recovery in affected micro-SMEs.

Aside from prioritising and encouraging the purchase of Malaysian-made products, Perikatan wants to develop micro-SMEs into mid-tier companies and assist them in expanding into locally-owned multinational companies.

To assist micro-SMEs in expanding their access to domestic and international markets, Perikatan will provide incentives for improving branding and product quality.

It also wants to improve the value chain of micro-SMEs by creating more high-income job opportunities.

There will be incentives to facilitate the awarding of halal certifications for micro-SMEs.

Guaranteeing adequate food supplies at a reasonable price is also on Perikatan’s agenda.

It wants to create six megafood production hubs in strategic locations that will focus on the manufacturing, preparation and distribution of food to achieve national self-sufficiency.

RM1bil will be allocated for a “Fund for Food” initiative in order to increase the manufacturing of food supplies and to stabilise food prices in the country.

Perikatan will also set up a government entity to ensure basic food security and strengthen the production of fertilisers and livestock food through the involvement of GLCs.

According to Perikatan, the election manifesto was drafted to uphold the Constitution and Islam as the religion of the Federation, as well as to protect the rights of all races.

It said Perikatan was created when the nation was facing unprecedented crises in politics, health and the economy.

“Perikatan stepped forward to lead the country to ensure the welfare and prosperity of the people. The Perikatan government succeeded in a national recovery that took place in the midst of a global pandemic,” the election manifesto read.

At the same time, Perikatan also listed its achievements since 2020, among them being seven economic stimulus packages such as Prihatin (RM230bil), Prihatin PKS + (RM10bil), Penjana (RM35bil), Kita Prihatin (RM10bil), Permai (RM16bil), Pemerkasa (RM20bil), and Pemulih (RM150bil).

Perikatan managed to create 500,000 job opportunities through the national employment council and also signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement in 2020.